Thief-proof treasure-box.



C. F. RITCHEL.

THIEF PROOF TREASURE BOX.

APPLICATION FILED APR-25.1907- 1,198,581. Patented Sept. 19, 1916.

@if y UNTTED STATES PATENT @FFTCE.

CHARLES E. RITCHEL, OF BRIDGEPOR-T, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO. NEW YORKSAFETY CHEST COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

THIEF-PROOF TREASURE-BOX.

Application filed April 25, 1907.

To all U7/ Lm it may concern Be it known that 1, CHARLES F. Rrrorinn,

- a citizen of the United States, and a resiis released upon tilting thebox.

dent of Bridgeport, county of Fairfield, State of Connecticut, haveinvented a certain new and useful Thief-Proof Treasure- Box, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention is an improved thief proof treasure box.

One of the objects of the invention is the production of such a box withan alarm so connected thereto that when the alarm op erating mechanismis released upon the movement of the box, the alarm will be sounded.

Another object is to produce such a box with an alarm operatingmechanism carried thereby, said alarm operating mechanism being sosecured thereto that in transportation it will not operate.

Another object is to produce such a box that when it is tampered with inan attempt to open it without a key, the alarm mechanism will bereleased and the alarm sounded.

Other objects will appear from the hereinafter description.

One type of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawingwhich forms a part of this application.

Referring to the drawing in which the same reference character indicatesthe same part in the several views, Figure 1 is a top plan view of thebox with the top thereof removed and showing the alarm operatingmechanism, and the alarm in plan. Fig. 2 is a front view of saidmechanism, showing the top of the box closed and the coiperating partcarried thereby in engagement with the alarm releasing mechanism. Fig. 3is an enlarged side elevation of the alarm re leasing mechanism viewedat right angles to Fig. 2, and showing the position of the parts whenthe alarm releasing mechanism is locked so that the box may betransported without releasing said mechanism. Fig. 4 is a similar Viewshowing the position of the parts when the alarm operating mechanismFig. 5 is a view showing the position of the parts when the alarmoperating mechanism is released when the box has been tampered with inan attempt to force the cover. Fig.

.6 is a plan view of the alarm releasing Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Sept. 19, 1916.

Serial No. 370,188.

locking mechanism. Fig. 7 is a vertical section of a detail showing aslightly modified construction. Fig. 8 is a detail View showing the dog22 in relation to the lock.

The part marked 1 on the drawing represents the box.

2 is the top thereof which may be hinged to the body of the box in theOrdinary mannor.

3 is a crank shaft connected to and driven by any suitable mechanism,such as ordinary clock mechanism, not shown, mounted in the case 4.Connected to this crank is a piston 6 which moves in a cylinder which isconnected to a horn 5. When the clock mechanism operates the pistontravels backward and forward in the cylinder, sucking and forcing air toblow the horn in a well known manner and causing an alarm. This wholemechanism may be termed an alarm mechanism. The specific form or" hornis immaterial. Any suitable well-known horn structure may be employed.In Fig. 1 it will be understood that the bell of the horn is shown inend view, that is, the axis of the horn is perpendicular to theconnected cylinder containing the piston 6. Secured to and forming apart of the alarm operating mechanism, is anarmB extending through thecase 4:. hen this arm is held in a certain position, the alarm mechanismis prevented from operating and when said arm is released it permits thesaid mechanism to operate the air pump to blow the horn as a signal. oralarm that the box is being re moved or tampered with. Such detentstructures are well understood. For purposes of illustration, I haveshown the inner end of the arm 5 adapted to engage with a toothed wheel3 forming'part of or geared to the clock mechanism, when the outer endof the armis depressed, the arm being springpressed in the oppositedirection to disengage its inner end from the wheel.

The mechanism for releasing the alarm operating-mechanism will now bedescribed. Secured inside the box to the bottom thereof is a support 7.Carried by this support is an inverted cup shaped shell 8. Extendingdown from the top of this shell is a rod or support 9'having a hook S onthe lower end thereof to which is suspended a plumb 10. On the lower endof this plumb is a projection or finger 10 11 is a hub or guide carriedby or formed integral with the support 7. 12 is a plunger which moveslongitudinally in the opening 11 of said hub 11. The upper end of thisplunger also has a projection or finger 12 which normally rests againstthe end of the finger 10. The lower end 12 of the plunger is reduced andfits in a recess 13 in the bottom of the box. The plunger just above itsreduced portion is provided with an annular groove 12. The plunger isprovided with a recess 12 into which fits a coil spring ll. The lowerend of this coil spring rests in the recess 13 at the bottom of the boxand tends to raise the plunger and keep the finger 12 in contact withthe finger 1O when the plumb is vertical or the box sitting level.Projecting from or carried by the plunger is an arm 15 which normallyrests against the arm 3 and holds the arm down and thus prevents theoperation of the alarm mechanism. In some cases, instead of providingthe plunger with the arm 15, I may have a vertical groove therein intowhich projects the end of the arm 3, as more clearly shown in Fig. 7 ofthe drawing. This mecnanism operates as follows: Normally the box mustbe substantially level and the position of the plunger and plumb asshown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing; that is to say, with the plumbvertical and its finger 10 resting against the finger 12 of the plunger,holding the plunger down in its locked position against the tension ofthe spring and the arm 15 in engagement with the arm 3*. lVhen the boxis tilted, the plumb following gravity, the finger 1O thereof will moveout of contact with the finger 12 whereupon the plunger will be raisedor moved vertically by the spring 14; the arm 15 will then be raised outof engage ment with the arm 3 whereupon the said arm will be released,and the alarm operating mechanism will move to operate the pump 6 andblow the horn to sound an alarm. The position of the parts when the boxis tilted, the end of the finger 10 being out of engagement with thefinger 12 is shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing. The mechanism for lockingthe plunger so that it Will not move when the box is tilted, and themechanism for operating the plunger when the box is being tampered within an attempt to open it whether the said plunger is locked or not, willnow be described. 16 is a flat plate which is bent at right angles toform a horizontal member 1b which normally rests on the bottom of thebox, and a vertical member 16 which fits against the front wall of thebox. The member 16 is adapted to be moved vertically and raise themember 16 OK the bottom of the box for a purpose hereinafter to bedescribed. The member 16 is guided and held against the front wall ofthe box by keepers or guides 17. The inwardly projecting end of themember 16 is recessed to form two prongs 16 of a fork which straddlesthe reduced portion 12 of the plungerand rests under the shoulder of theplunger formed by said reduced portion. 18 is a lever which is pivotedto the member l6 by the ears 16 16 is another pair of ears between thefirst men tioned ears and the front wall of the box. Pivoted to theseears is a rod 19 bent eccentrically and which rests under one end of thelever 18. The other end of the lever 18 is recessed to form two prongs18" which fit in the groove 12 011 the plunger 12. The upper end of themember l6 has one corner of it beveled 16 and under this beveled corneris formed a recess or notch 16 To the lid of the box is pivoted. a catch20. 21 is a spring which bears against the catch and forces it normallyin the direction of the member 16 The operation of this mechanism is asfollows: If the box is transported and the plunger 12 is left to operatefreely, as soon as the box is tilted or shaken, the plumb 10 will swingoff the top of the finger 12" of the plunger and the spring will forcethe plunger up whereupon the arm 3 will be released and the alarmmechanism will be operated to sound the alarm. To prevent this, thelever 18 has been provided. When the rod 19 is raised so that it bearsagainst the forward end of the lever 18, the other end of the leverwhich is secured to the plunger will be held down thus preventing theplunger from rising when the plumb is moved from its contact with thefinger 12? Therefore, when the eccentric 19 is in position, the alarmmechanism will not be released whether the box is tilted or not. Theposition of the parts when the mechanism is locked for transportation isshown in Figs. 3 and 5.

When the box is tampered with in an attempt to raise the lid withoutunlocking, the mechanism will operate as follows: Upon raising the lid,however slightly, the catch 20 being hooked to and in engagement withthe member 16 will raise said member lifting the member 16 off thebottom of the box. This movement raises the plunger 12 which carries thearm 15 out of engagement with the arm 3", whereupon the clock mechanismwill be released to operate the plunger 6 to sound the alarm mechanism.

Of course, it is necessary that the lid of the box be so arranged thatit can be raised by the proper person without setting off the alarm. Toaccomplish this, I have pivoted either to the lid of the box or to theinside of the front wall thereof, preferably to the latter, a lever ordog 22 having one end 22 thereof normally in contact with the catch 20.This dog is so connected to the locking mechanism 23 that when the keyis turned to open the box, said dog is swung so that its end 22 willforce the catch 20 out of engagement with the notch 16 of the member 16whereupon the lid can be raised and the box opened without operating theplunger and setting off the alarm. The dog 20 may obviously be connectedwith the locking mechanism in any suitable manner. For purposes ofillustration I have shown the dog pivoted at 22 and provided with a pin22, which projects into the path of the locking bolt 23, so that the dogis moved to disengage the catch 20 when the bolt is withdrawn.

lVhile I have here shown what I consider the best type of my invention,yet it is to be understood that I do not intend to limit myself to theexact construction herein shown and described, as it is obvious thatmany changes may be made without depart ing from the spirit or scope ofmy invention as expressed by the claims.

lVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In abox, an alarm, alarm operating mechanism, a plunger for controlling theoperation of said mechanism, means tending to move the plunger from itsposition in which it prevents operation of said mechanism, and twoseparate mechanisms for holding the plunger against the tendency of saidmeans, one of said mechanisms comprising a weighted pendulum which isautomatically moved from plunger-holding position when the box is movedand the other of said means including a manually operable lever operableto lock the plunger to prevent sounding the alarm during the shipment ofthe chest, when the first holding mechanism is in non-holding position.

2. In a box, for containing valuables, an alarm, an alarm operatingmechanism, a plunger engaging said mechanism to prevent its operationwhen the plunger is in a certain position, a guiding means for saidplunger, said plunger being provided with a finger having an engagingface of reduced cross section; a spring for moving said plunger out ofengagement with the said alarm mechanism; a plumb provided with areduced finger whose face engages the finger on the said plunger to holdit against the alarm mechanism against the tension of the sprin theengaging faces of said fingers being or about the same area, said plumbbeing adapted, when the box is slightly tilted, to be moved out ofengagement with the plunger to permit the spring to move the plunger torelease the alarm mechanism.

3. In a box, for containing valuables, an alarm, an alarm operatingmechanism, a spring pressed plunger, having a finger with a reducedportion, said finger acting to prevent movement of said alarm operatingmechanism; a plumb having a finger engaging said first-named finger,said plumb holding said finger against the movement 01":

the spring, and a pivoted lever cooperating with the plunger, and ameans for holding the lever in such position as to prevent the plungerfrom operating.

r. In a box, an alarm, alarm operating mechanism, means comprising aplunger for holding said mechanism against operation, means acting uponsaid plunger to positively move the holding means out of engagement withthe alarm operating mechanism, and means carried by the lid of the boxand engaging said positively operating means to move the plunger uponthe movement of the lid of the box, whereby the alarm operatingmechanism will be operated.

5. In a box, an alarm, alarm operating mechanism, a plunger engagingsaid mechanism to hold the alarm operating mechanism against movement, amember connected to the plunger to positively move the said plunger torelease the alarm operating mechanism, another member connected to thefirst mentioned member and having a recess therein, a catch connected tothe lid of the box and engaging the recess of the second member, wherebyupon the moving of the lid of the box the plunger will be moved torelease the alarm operating mechanism.

6. In a box, an alarm, alarm operating mechanism, a plunger engagingsaid mechanism to hold the alarm operating mechanism against movement, amember connected to the plunger to positively move the said plunger torelease the alarm operating mechanism, another member connected to thefirst mentioned member and having a recess therein, a catch connected tothe lid of the box and engaging the recess, a lock on said box and meansconnected to the lock, whereby upon operating the lock to open the boxthe catch will be moved out of engagement with the said recess, wherebythe lid of the box may be raised without releasing the alarm operatingmechanism.

7. In a box, an alarm, alarm operating mechanism, a plunger engagingsaid mechanism to hold the alarm operating mechanism against movement, amember connected to the plunger to positively move the said plunger torelease the alarm operating mechanism, another member connected to thefirst mentioned member and having a recess therein, a catch connected tothe lid of the box and engaging the recess, a lock on said box, and alever pivoted to the box and connected to the lock of the box, wherebyupon the lock being operated to open the box, the said lever will forcethe catch out of engagement with the recess, whereby the box may beopened without releasing the alarm operating mechanism. a

8. In a. box, an alarm, alarm operating mechanism, a plunger havingconnection with said mechanism for restraining movement thereof, a plumbfor holding the plunger in its operative position, said plumb beingmoved out of its holding position when the box is tilted, and meansoperable to move the plunger out of operable position when the box is innon-tilted position.

9. In a box, having a lid, an alarm, alarm operating mechanism, aplunger having connection with said mechanism for restraining movementthereof, a plumb for holding the plunger in its operative position, saidplumb being moved out of its holding position when the box is tilted,and connections between the lid and plunger to move the latter to startthe alarm when the lid is pried open.

10. In a box having a lid, an alarm, alarm operating mechanism, aplunger having connection with said mechanism for restraining movementthereof, a plumb freely suspended above the plunger, said plunger andplumb having contacting pointed projections, and means connecting thelid and plunger to move the plunger against the action of the plumb.

11. In a box, an alarm, alarm operating mechanism, a plunger havingconnection with said mechanism for restraining move ment thereof, aplumb freely suspended above the plunger, said plunger and plumb havingcontacting pointed projections, and means operable to move the plungeragainst the action of the plumb, so as to raise the plunger and plumband release the alarm.

12. In a box adapted to receive the articles to be protected, a horn, apump to force air into the horn to blow the same, mechanism foroperating said pump, a plunger engaging said mechanism to preventmovement thereof, a spring for holding the plunger into engagement withsaid mechanism, and a plumb engaging said plunger to hold it downagainst the tension of the spring when the box is level, and the saidplumb moving out of engagement with the plunger when the box is tilted.

13. A safety chest containing an alarm and alarm-operating mechanism, incombination with a plunger adapted to cooperate with said mechanism tohold the same against operation, guiding means for said plunger, aspring tending to move said plunger so as to release said mechanism, aweighted pendulum cooperating with said plunger to hold the same againstthe action of said spring, and manually operable means for holding saidplunger, when desired, when said pendulum is out of holding relation.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand at the city of New York,county of New York and State of New York, this 13th day of April, 1907.

CHARLES F. RITCIIEL.

In presence of ALLAN W. Foosn, I. RICHARDS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C.

